Published: Tuesday, July 16th, 2013 at 3:53PMUpdated: Tuesday, July 16th, 2013 at 11:21PM, #foogallery-gallery-0 .fg-image { KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. According to her testimony, Heather Chavez was in Chicago with her parents the weekend Tera died. This comes as the number of cases continues to rise and the offenses more and more violent. He was accused of using his APD issued gun in 2007 to kill her and then staging it to look like a suicide. That leaves Levi Chavez as the sole defendant in the civil matter, which had been on hold since his indictment to allow the criminal case to reach a conclusion. xcbdg`b`8 $@@q1`: ) . (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Journal), Former APD officer Levi Chavez, right, gets a hug from his attorney David Serna after the jury in the murder trial against him returned a verdict of not guilty on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. 76 0 obj Judge Eichwald ultimately allowed the question, to which Radosevich answered: At the time (Jones) recovered it, yes, Jones said the magazine was unseated. 77 0 obj A Bernalillo County deputy was reportedly not injured after their vehicle rolled in a two-vehicle, Trying to figure out where the medical cannabis program stands now is up for debate, Hospital CEO Kate Becker says 'we really want to hear from our community about what. "I can't look at her. The official website for the City of Albuquerque. I dont see how thats possible, Levi Chavez said. Levi Chavez has admitted to having girlfriends while he was married, including APD officer Heather Hindi, whom he married within days of her divorce from another APD officer Despite being sued by the city of Rio Rancho for reimbursement for his police certification costs, Schultz hires Chavez even after strong arguments by APD Academy personnel objecting to his hiring. Chavez enrolled as a student at the University of California at Berkeley, studying writing and literature as part of the program in English literature offered there. But, the disgraced former officer insisted that he did not kill his wife. endstream Dr. Chavez works in Albuquerque, NM and 1 other location and specializes in Obstetrics & Gynecology. I want to make sure that the general public understands that we are not targeting petty shoplifting or individuals who are shoplifting out of a need, we are targeting organized retail criminals, said Balderas. And it was the third time the judge denied him. He stopped McKay on a few occasions and asked whether he could talk to my jury.. Also in court on Friday, jurors heard a heavily redacted recording of the deposition Levi Chavez gave in the civil case. These initiatives led to the continued success in the reduction of property crimes in the Southwest Area Command. ITS A HEAVY WEIGHT TO CARRY. I've been in contact with him. This proactive approach brought compliance rates in the Albuquerque area up to 95%. Ex-New Mexico police officer acquitted of wife's murder Associated Press July 16, 2013: Levi Chavez, right, a former Albuquerque police officer, gets a hug from his wife, Heather. NANCY: OCTOBER 28, 1992, CARLA HAD NOT SHOWN UP TO WORK AT THE CONVENIENCE STORE. The 311 service is a single telephone number for all non-emergency City of Albuquerque inquiries and services. Bernalillo County deputy involved in rollover crash in Northeast Albuquerque, Where does medical cannabis go from here? . He said in 2009 at the deposition that Thursday Oct. 18, 2007 was the last time he was there until Sunday night Oct. 21, when he says he discovered Teras body. "What did I tell you?" "She received multiple stab wounds." Testimony and argument in the trial lasted five weeks. the Albuquerque Police Department. He believes in principles that are focused on community and law enforcement partnerships, problem solving, and transforming the department to help create a strong bond of trust with the community. On Oct. 28, 1992, a Farmington woman was brutally murdered. << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 902 >> Heather Chavez, Albuquerque Police Department, NM, (505) 768-2404, Heather E Hindi, age 44, Albuquerque, NM 87120 View Full Report Known Cities: Albuquerque NM, 87120, Albuquerque NM 87107, Albuquerque NM 87102 Possible Relatives: Anna M Chavez, Christopher R Chavez, David R She practices in Albuquerque, New Mexico and has the professional credentials of MD . I feel confident with my choice, but I cry for the family, she said. "She received multiple stab wounds." Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. State District Judge George P. Eichwald essentially gutted that theory when he barred Farrellys testimony after a motion from Serna. More from KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos, What Biden might try next if his student loan forgiveness, Bile acids and gut microbes could potentially treat, Should we bring back the dodo? 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Market data provided by Factset. or redistributed. Nobody thus far has had to pay for this crime," Chavez said.Police believe someone does know who killed Carla Felmer and Farmington police are still following leads in this case. HUM0W%FWD ,X{8n`j.{_il;xQne9oK^T(gB5eVhmmvPZu]u^Z@V.>2XYi-&+n q m4mNpI P]-)8m !5;RTTAdfI;H.KDYBd"kgBYJi !GG@5*GG0Zaowi&.0D6L%pI He started his police career in November of 1995, when he graduated from the Albuquerque Police Academy. He became a first-generation college student and graduated within four years. (AP Photo/Albuquerque Journal, Adolphe Pierre-Louis). After Romero testified, Russell Perea took the witness stand armed with a promise if immunity granted by Eichwald in exchange for his testimony. Self Service Car Washes Near Me, stream However, he conceded that it was plausible.. Detectives say Chavez wanted his wife dead because she threatened to reveal he staged the theft of a truck so he can collect insurance money. Serna will begin putting defense witnesses on the stand today. First on the witness stand was Rita Romero, Levi Chavezs mother, who often testified through sobs as she told defense attorney David Serna how much she loved her former daughter-in-law, Tera Chavez. Within two months of her death, he was engaged to a former colleague at the Albuquerque Police Department, Heather Hindi, and they were married a few months later, PEOPLE wrote. Serna said his client was a victim of an overly aggressive former detective and "lies" from local media outlets, although none reported Serna ever requesting for a retraction or correction from any stories since 2007. He had come to the her office to schedule a time to shadow Heather, according to her testimony, meaning she would show him the ropes of detective work in the unit. The Attorney Generals office said this crackdown is on the more violent offenders and they know who they are. Upon his acquittal, Levi dedicated his life to fighting for the falsely accused. He introduced and developed several first-time programs that emphasized on outreach to local youth. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - The family of 33-year-old Erika Chavez, the Albuquerque woman who died in a car crash, said their lives will never be the same. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, MLB pitchers adjusting to quick pace of new pitch, Military prospects see NFL hopes rise after policy, Female minor league manager gets day as D-backs bench, Grosjean leads Andretti qualifying sweep for IndyCar, Bertuzzi sets up goal in Bruins 4-2 win over Rangers, New Mexico Gas Company leaders explain high winter gas bills, San Juan County sheriff who shot a dog tells his side of the story, New Mexico man sentenced for trafficking 45 lbs of meth from Mexico. Mothers Against Drunk Driving honored him with an individual Heros Award for his work in preventing underage drinking in 2007. endobj Tera Chavez died on 22nd October 2007 at Los Lunas, New Mexico, United States, she was 26 years old during her time of death and according to the report she died from a gunshot wound from her husband's service weapon. Wheeler is the husband of Chavez's maid of honor, Samantha Wheeler. Freed: Levi Chavez, right, a Get the help of an immigration lawyer in Albuquerque, NM, by contacting Cristina Chvez, Attorney at Law, LLC. During these 19 months, property crimes saw double-digit reductions in many areas. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Police officers will often tell you theres no such thing as a routine call when youre patrolling the streets. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Journal), Tera Chavez's brother Aaron Cordova, left, her parents Theresa and Joseph Cordova, prosecutors Bryan McKay and Anne Keener, along with former Valencia County detective Aaron Jones, arrive at the Sandoval County District Court for the verdict in the murder trial of APD officer Levi Chavez on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. On Oct. 21 of that year a Sunday Romero tried several times to call her son to set up a lunch date, according to her testimony. Levi M. Chavez, II, Esq. About Heather Chavez Heather is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeleys English literature program and has worked as a newspaper reporter, editor and contributor to mystery and television blogs. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis /Journal), Former APD officer Levi Chavez clutches a rosary before being found not guilty of murder on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. He was honored as the Uniformed Officer of the month as a patrol officer three times. Serna objected to the question, and Eichwald sustained the objection. He has pled not guilty. Steve Hindi is a former boxer. Romero described the relationship between Levis family and Teras family as nonexistent., We traveled in different circles, she said. Prosecutors allege that he shot his wife, Tera Chavez, through the mouth on either Oct. 19, 20 or 21, 2007, in the couples home near Los Lunas and tried to make her death look like a suicide. The tawdry details spilled in the trial and the questions it raised about the practices of the Albuquerque Police Department have further tarnished the agency, which is under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department over a series of police shootings. (Greg Sorber/Journal), Former Valencia County Detective Aaron Jones talks to the media on Tuesday, July 16, 2013, after Levi Chavez was found not guilty of murdering his wife Tera Chavez. The whole situation is just sick, she said through tears. Legal Statement. They say Chavez was having an affair with Albuquerque police officer Nick Wheeler in the months before her death.